New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-23
JAMES II. PAINE
Dom The Roston Gazette.

Pending the question of right to the property Of
Paine. "thc mser" In New-York. the query arose as
to the tine when his eccentricitee began, 1t being
stated that observable up to the time Of
his leaving Boston, This Is entirely Incorrect as
they were known here long before the time stated,
and he had become object OF public comment and
rdicule before he had cut himself free, was
cut by IL, from the society which no fequcntcd.
have before me paper Of 1862 In which Is Q cap
ital likeness Of him, that was recognized by every
body drawn by Rowse, representing him as the "in-
dependent voter" OF the day. when the secret ballot
in vogue, looking his shoulder TO II
his action was observed while putt ne his votr In the
envelope. There Is no mark OF squalOr about the
picture, although at that time he threadbare and
seedy, with sort Of decaycd gcntIlity about him
suggestive Of cheap eatng-ho and free lunches.
But he not that patrOnzed either. Tho
gen Iei any nstln t had not died out OF him, and
his Just tho keynote OF the discorlant
close that subsequently, tranpred In New-YOrk.
/ knew him somewhere back In the fOrtcs, when
he woo money articles for Tho Boston Post"
articles that idc their mar on the time and were
widev quo ed. He wa q rapid AMI positive writer
his articles flowing on without change, and very
legiby. But they always written paper
scraps and leaves torn from oil account books, with
never var alton OF sheet OF clean paper. This
fractice he carried TO "Thc Gazette" where found
him lit ater, with tingo more OF poverty In his
making up, but still tho gentleman in his bearing.
/ never a SIN OF money about him, and the beg
gar who. by accident might havo asked him for aims,
would Immediately havo been hamed and offered
to divvy with him. No one knew OF any business
that he did, hut he was active. and tho window OF
"The Gazette" Office on Hawoy st, Mt high 12, was
made cxtcmporized brokers' boarl, whcreat he
would hold mysterious counsel with occasional
customer who had evidently put his fortune In Panes
hands for investment. Their tones all In
whisper, but the terms OF the cnrbsOno and
then hcarl While Paine held his customer with his
et'crng eye, and there was an cathcdra emphasis
In his fingers they fell on tho victims arm. saw
one Of these few months after one OF these inter
views. and he impressive seedness that
could not help assocatng with the hegira of his man
ipulator.
Paine vanished from among us like n materialized
spirit It's power all spent. and Boston knew him no
more forever. No one imputed 10 him dishonesty, his
and secretivcness being his marked charac-
tcrstics No one knew whore how he lived. He
Was shut up within himself l Ike an oyster. The
miscrly distemper was then forming that grew 10 its
climax New York. He cOrrcsp0nded with "1he
Cazet for time after no went there his letters
combining Information AMI puis. until one Saturday,
under Gazette" rush. his lcter curtacd 10 the
cnacting clause" for which he walled in grief hold
ing responsible. regarding II a breach OF friend
ship. and this severed his connection with "The
Gazette"
We heard from him ut times lie would meet stray
Dostonlsns In quest OF information and TO these nc
would cling t"naclousy. carrying them TO all notable
places AMI filling their from his budget OF facts
that seemed incxhaustii 10. the understood condition
being that the secer should supply refreshments who
would be glad when Inc contract was completed. one
of these. u modest singer OF Boston with whom Paine
had teen somewhat familiar In former times met him
In Now York. and walk suggested by Paine |
u
did not improve bis appearance any, and tho Interview
continued until we'll into the night but the singer said
that the Information he received. and the entertaining
gossip OF the town, made tho hole the knee
tOlerable
He was great gossip. He knew Of every thing that
was transprinc tohuman dscrot in church. In opera,
in fashionable circles, and he would relate the story Of
ipeccadllo With the greatest clce. Not perhaps that
ic vicious. but he lovcl gossip. lie grew |
md worse In appear nee and no shut out from |
Onccrt rooms. theatres Opcras-Chckerings even Ia
DOING him. though Mr.. Charles Chickcrnc IL was
zone bv another than he-and the churches at |
ast would not let him hear their music. dccming II !
% should bv chance ~ct converted he would do
reiit TO the KINGDOM Of heaven he then appeared.
With boot foot and shoe the other. In
1rs. with napkin, abs'ract@i from eating
onse whore he hal been fed charity for nineteen
cars, for rocket hanikcrchlef
Now, who VIII dare 20 cay this old not
~ anef He possessed with u money mania that
rev from saving. economical habit 20
icious greed eliminating in the wreck he when
e died. lie r'uh l." have hnown hi own cond-
ion. and acted under the Authorization that he WA
eally poor Could a sane man. though 4 mlser. see
fortune lecomc valuces- by default Of To look
fcr IL. did Iainc, remembering his former shrwd-
's-l ! can but III nix him crazed. and fancy. with
ity, tho rOOr old standln at the cold New
'ort street begging for nckels with which ~
ay the - per month for the attic In which he died.